With LeSean McCoy hurt, Buffalo Bills may kick the tires on Ray Rice

CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 29: Ray Rice #27 of the Baltimore Ravens runs with the ball during the NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on December 29, 2013 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

With running back LeSean McCoy, the Buffalo Bills' prized acquisition of the offseason, sidelined, Ray Rice may finally get a second chance.

Just maybe.

McCoy hurt his left hamstring Tuesday night and is having tests to determine the extent of the injury.

Coach Rex Ryan said trainers informed him the hamstring is intact and has not been pulled off the bone, which he described as "a real positive." The injury occurred about an hour into a joint practice with the Cleveland Browns.

Ryan didn't want to be pinned down on a timetable for how much time McCoy could miss.

"I really don't want to go there yet, because let's get the prelim reports," he said. "Hopefully, this will be something that doesn't set him back too far."

McCoy was running a route during a 7-on-7 red-zone drill when he pulled up short near the goal line. He slowly walked to the sideline holding the back of his left leg and then sat on the turf, where he was attended to by numerous trainers. He required help getting up, and didn't bend his left leg while slowly making his way to the locker room alongside team doctor Les Bisson and trainer Shone Gibson.

The injury could be a big blow for the Bills after they acquired the two-time All-Pro in a trade that sent linebacker Kiko Alonso to Philadelphia in March.

McCoy led the NFL with 1,607 rushing yards in 2013, and was regarded as the centerpiece in Buffalo's plan to establish a run-first offense under Ryan. The former New York Jets coach took over the Bills in January, replacing Doug Marrone, who stepped down on Dec. 31.